Electrowetting display device

Abstract

An electrowetting display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a conductive fluid and a non-conductive fluid. The first substrate includes a first base substrate, a first electrode layer, a hydrophobic insulation layer and a partition wall. The first electrode layer is formed on the first base substrate and includes pixel electrodes spaced apart from each other and a common notch electrode formed between the pixel electrodes. The hydrophobic insulation layer is formed on the first electrode layer. The partition wall is formed surrounding the pixel electrodes and the common notch electrode on the hydrophobic insulation layer. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate. The conductive fluid and the non-conductive fluid are interposed between the first and second substrates. The conductive fluid and the non-conductive fluid are controlled to vary transmittance of light in accordance with an electric signal applied to the pixel electrodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrowetting display device comprising:
 a first substrate comprising:
 a first base substrate, 
 a first electrode layer formed on the first base substrate to comprise a plurality of pixel electrodes spaced apart from each other and a common notch electrode formed between each of the plurality of pixel electrodes, 
 a hydrophobic insulation layer formed on the first electrode layer, and 
 a partition wall formed surrounding each of the pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes and surrounding the common notch electrode on the hydrophobic insulation layer; 
 
 a second substrate opposite to the first substrate; and 
 a conductive fluid and a non-conductive fluid, each interposed between the first and second substrates, the conductive fluid and the non-conductive fluid controlled to vary a transmittance of light in accordance with an electric signal applied to the plurality of pixel electrodes. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrowetting display device of  claim 1 , wherein a pixel electrode of the plurality of pixel electrodes is disposed between adjacent partition walls and the common notch electrode is disposed between the pixel electrodes forming a main pixel. 
     
     
       3. The electrowetting display device of  claim 2 , wherein the common notch electrode is formed at a central area of the main pixel. 
     
     
       4. The electrowetting display device of  claim 3 , wherein a size of the common notch electrode is about 30% or less of a size of each of the pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes. 
     
     
       5. The electrowetting display device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes is a reflection electrode reflecting light. 
     
     
       6. The electrowetting display device of  claim 1 , wherein the second substrate comprises:
 a second base substrate; and 
 a second electrode layer formed on the second base substrate. 
 
     
     
       7. The electrowetting display device of  claim 6 , wherein the common notch electrode and the second electrode layer are each configured to receive an identical voltage. 
     
     
       8. The electrowetting display device of  claim 6 , wherein the common notch electrode and the plurality of pixel electrodes are configured to receive different voltages. 
     
     
       9. The electrowetting display device of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic insulation layer comprises:
 an organic layer formed on the first electrode layer; and 
 a hydrophobic layer formed on the organic layer, the hydrophobic layer having a degree of wettability that is controlled in accordance with an electric signal applied to the plurality of pixel electrodes. 
 
     
     
       10. The electrowetting display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first substrate further comprises a light-blocking layer formed on the first base substrate in correspondence with the partition wall. 
     
     
       11. The electrowetting display device of  claim 10 , wherein the light-blocking layer comprises:
 a first light-blocking layer extended along a first direction and having a first width identical to a width of the partition wall; and 
 a second light-blocking layer extended along a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and having a second width greater than the width of the partition wall. 
 
     
     
       12. The electrowetting display device of  claim 11 , wherein the common notch electrode is disposed adjacent to the second light-blocking layer. 
     
     
       13. The electrowetting display device of  claim 12 , wherein a center portion of the second light-blocking layer has a convex shape. 
     
     
       14. The electrowetting display device of  claim 13 , wherein a center portion of the hydrophobic insulation layer has a concave shape at a portion where the second light-blocking layer is formed. 
     
     
       15. The electrowetting display device of  claim 10 , wherein the light-blocking layer comprises a third light-blocking layer extended in a first direction and a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and having a second width greater than a width of the partition wall. 
     
     
       16. The electrowetting display device of  claim 11 , wherein the first substrate further comprises a switching element formed on the first base substrate and providing each of the pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes with the electric signal. 
     
     
       17. The electrowetting display device of  claim 16 , wherein a contact hole electrically connected to the switching element is formed through each of the pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes. 
     
     
       18. The electrowetting display device of  claim 17 , wherein a distance interval between the common notch electrode and the contact hole is about 20 μm or less. 
     
     
       19. The electrowetting display device of  claim 16 , wherein the first substrate further comprises a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines formed on the first base substrate connected to the switching element, and
 wherein the data lines are overlapped with the common notch electrode. 
 
     
     
       20. An electrowetting display device comprising:
 a first substrate comprising:
 a first base substrate, 
 a first electrode layer formed on the first base substrate to comprise a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode spaced apart from the first pixel electrode, 
 a hydrophobic insulation layer formed on the first electrode layer, and 
 a partition wall formed surrounding the first and second pixel electrodes on the hydrophobic insulation layer; 
 
 a second substrate opposite to the first substrate; and 
 a conductive fluid and a non-conductive fluid, each interposed between the first and second substrates, the conductive fluid and the non-conductive fluid controlled to vary a transmittance of light in accordance with an electric signal applied to the first and second pixel electrodes, 
 wherein a color filter layer is formed on one of the first and second substrates, and 
 wherein the color filter layer comprises a first color filter formed on an area of the color filter layer corresponding to the first pixel electrode and a second color filter formed on an area of the color filter layer corresponding to the second pixel electrode. 
 
     
     
       21. The electrowetting display device of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second pixel electrodes are disposed between adjacent partition walls and the first and second pixel electrodes and the adjacent partition walls form a single sub-pixel, and a plurality of sub-pixels adjacent to each other form one main pixel. 
     
     
       22. The electrowetting display device of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first and second color filters have a color that is red, green, blue, or white. 
     
     
       23. The electrowetting display device of  claim 20 , wherein the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are configured to receive different voltages to control an arrangement of the conductive fluid and the non-conductive fluid. 
     
     
       24. The electrowetting display device of  claim 20 , wherein the second substrate comprises:
 a second base substrate; and 
 a second electrode layer formed on the second base substrate. 
 
     
     
       25. The electrowetting display device of  claim 24 , wherein a voltage applied to one of the first and second pixel electrodes is the same as a voltage applied to the second electrode layer. 
     
     
       26. An electrowetting display device comprising:
 a first substrate; 
 a second substrate opposite to the first substrate; and 
 a transparent fluid and an opaque fluid, each interposed between the first and second substrates, the relative arrangement of the transparent fluid and the opaque fluid controlled to vary a transmittance of light in accordance with a received electric signal, 
 wherein the first substrate comprises:
 plurality of pixel electrodes spaced apart from each other; 
 a common notch electrode formed between each of the plurality of pixel electrodes; and 
 a partition wall formed surrounding each of the pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes and the common notch electrode.